Maine's community colleges offer affordable customized training and continuing education that give businesses and employees the skills they need to compete. Here's a snapshot of what we've been doing lately and what we can do for you.

More MCCS graduates. More skilled workers for Maine.

Nearly 3,000 students graduated from Maine's seven community colleges this spring, an increase of 500 over 2010. While an increasing number of MCCS graduates will transfer on to continue their education, many more will go to work, and if past classes are any indication, about 92% will do so in Maine, where they will contribute in significant ways to their families, their communities, and the state's economy.

We have seen dramatic growth in community college enrollment over the last decade, and now we are seeing the payoff: many more Maine people with a college credential. It's great news for our graduates and for Maine's economy which desperately needs skilled workers to grow and prosper.

-- Dr. John Fitzsimmons, President, Maine Community College System

Senator Susan Collins joined EMCC graduates at their commencement exercises this spring.

MCCS and MEMIC partner to improve workplace safety

Workers' compensation insurer MEMIC has joined forces with MCCS to form the MEMIC Center for Workplace Safety, which will be based at CMCC in Auburn. The Center is funded by a MEMIC investment in The Campaign for Maine's Community Colleges and will train workers and health and safety professionals across the state. It will begin offering courses and workshops this fall.

There is a natural fit between MEMIC and Maine's community colleges, who are now educating a large number of our current and future workforce. The community colleges have both the statewide capacity and the expertise to expand the support our company already offers employers as they seek to continue to improve health and safety in the workplace.

SMCC has partnered with Resilient Communications Corp. of Brunswick to offer training that will allow the company to expand its business. Several employees of the company have recently completed customized courses in composites manufacturing offered through SMCC's business and community partnerships division and more of its employees are scheduled to be trained in the coming months. Funding for the training has been provided by the Maine Quality Centers program and Goodwill Industries. The training is being held at Resilient's new location at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station where it manufactures modular containers that house and support sensitive communications equipment and IT networks for use during emergencies and in challenging environments.

EMCC's Welding Test Center is helping Maine's vocational high schools meet a new educational mandate for their students. Because students must now demonstrate proficiency in their course of study by taking certification tests based on national professional standards, the Center is monitoring proficiency tests in, among other things, shielded metal arc welding. The certification gives the students an advantage when looking for employment or furthering their education.

At the high school level students only have limited time to get the skills they need to become proficient at any type of welding. Our hope is that this testing will inspire those that are interested in welding as a career to continue on and acquire additional skills at the college level.-- Tom Giles, Director, EMCC's Welding Test Center

EMCC welding students listen as an instructor demonstrates a welding technique.

SMCC's Maine Fire Service Institute to serve the training needs of the state's fire departments

Maine has a new Fire Service Institute (MFSI) designed to provide enhanced fire service training options statewide. Formerly known as Maine Fire Training and Education, the new institute will be based at SMCC's Midcoast Campus in Brunswick and will support local and regional training to over 4,000 Maine volunteer and paid firefighters each year. While the safety and compliance training offered by MFSI is for those already employed or affiliated with a fire department, many of the courses offered by MFSI are eligible for credit through SMCC's fire science program.

First graduates of NMCC's wind power technology program enter workforce

The first 14 students in NMCC's new wind power technology program graduated this spring. All 14 have already found jobs in the field or are continuing their education.

There are job opportunities in wind power for our graduating class, some right here in Maine, others outside the state. This program has opened a lot of opportunities and offers me greater job security and the chance to stay in Maine.-- Matthew Melcher, of Bingham, 2011 NMCC wind power technology graduate

At WCCC a small house has a big role to play in energy efficiency training

With a grant from Maine Housing Authority and assistance from Elliot Management Consultants, WCCC has installed a special pressurized house in the college's building construction shop. This fall the house will be used to teach students about weatherization and energy efficiency by simulating real-world conditions. The curriculum will help students understand the effects of pressure and the flow of energy in a home, and to learn how to optimize savings. Other colleges that are part of the grant and have installed similar houses include KVCC, NMCC and SMCC. EMCC is also installing one, but with other funding.

This is a wonderful technology for our region and a great showcase for the college and building construction technology program.-- Dick Ramsey, Instructor

In brief...

Graduates of the Lewiston-Auburn Training, Distribution and Logistics (TDL) program were recently honored at a ceremony at CMCC. The three-year TDL initiative is an industry-focused program spearheaded by Coastal Enterprises Inc. in partnership with CMCC and Lewiston Adult Education to develop training and employment opportunities in the TDL sector.

KVCC is now accepting applications for its August Northeast Solar Heating and Cooling Instructor Training Program. The Solar Instructor Training Network was launched in 2009 to address a critical need for high-quality, local, and accessible training in solar system design, installation, sales and inspection. KVCC was selected as one of nine regional resource and training providers across the United States to support the program.

Chef Wil Beriau, chair of the SMCC Culinary Arts and Lodging & Restaurant Management programs, plans to retire this year after helping put the college's programs on the map and earning the respect of the industry and his students. The American Culinary Federation named Beriau chef educator of the year in 2008, and the school recently received ACF accreditation thanks in large part to Beriau's efforts, says Chef Geoffrey Boardman, who will succeed Beriau as chair of the department. Read more about Chef Beriau in this recent Portland Press Herald profile.

Eighteen workers who were laid off from Fraser Timber Inc. in Ashland and Masardis two years ago recently graduated from NMCC. They are among 40 displaced workers who started at the college in 2009. Because they lost their jobs after the college's second semester had already begun, NMCC created a special semester to enable them to enter college immediately. The graduates earned degrees in a wide array of subjects including plumbing and heating, residential construction, business administration and accounting.

CMCC has signed a transfer agreement with Michigan's Walsh College that will allow CMCC business students to complete their undergraduate and graduate degrees completely online. Students will be able to transfer 82-credit hours toward a bachelor degree in management, finance, marketing and general business.

YCCC recently hosted the New England Workforce Development Conference that brings together workforce development providers from colleges around New England. More than 100 attendees met at the Wells campus this spring for the annual conference on "Retraining for 21st Century Jobs" to share best practices and coordinate resources.

The continuing education divisions at all seven of Maine's community colleges offer a wide array of classes. Here is some of what is available this summer and fall:

The MCCS is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution and employer. For more information, please call the MCCS Human Resources Director at 207.629.4000. The complete Notice of Non-Discrimination is available at: www.mccs.me.edu/nondiscrimination.html.